Window regulator



J. w. LAKlN ET AL 1,892,731

WINDOW REGULATOR Filed Dev. 3, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l A TTORNEYS- "\"rolcs. I

Jan. 3, w, LAK|N ET L 1,892,731

WINDOW REGULATOR Filed Dec. 3, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS,

Patented Jan. 3, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN w. LAKIN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, AND HERBERT CJ'FIELD, OF WINDSOR, ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIGNORS TO TERNSTEDT MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN WINDOW REGULATOR Application filed December 8, 1931. Serial No. 578,754.

This invention relates to a window regula-' a pair of parallel glass runs. Each of these runs usually comprise a metal channel having a felt llning for cushioning the window and making the same substantially air-tight.

A common difliculty is that of the window cocking in its own plane thereby causing the Window, and particularly the upper corners to dig into the felt lined channel run-ways. Sometimes the runways are not truly parallel and thereby ermit one edge of the glass'to travel'ungui ed with the result that the operation of the window regulator tilts the window edgewise causing the other edge, particularly at its upper corner, to dig into the bottom of the felt lined runway. This digging in causes the window to work with difiiculty, and very often is suificient to stop the same from being moved upwardly and down wardly. This diificulty of the window cocking has been present here where the channel runways are inclined from the vertical so that the window travels in a slanted position.

It is an object of this invention to overcome this cocking and sticking of the window in the window runways, and this has been achieved by suspending the window on a window regulator at two s aced points which are always on opposite si esof the center of the bottom edge of the window, one of which contacts determines the path oftravel of the window as a straight line.

It isan object of this invention to produce a window regulator of the type that will at all times balance the window during its upward and downward movement to prevent cooking of the window in its own plane.

It is an object of this invention to produce a Window regulator that will positively re- A quire the window to travel a straight line path.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view of a door showing the window regulator in operative position. Figure 2 is a detail viewof the regulator 111 a partly lowered position.

tor.

Figure 4 is an assembly perspective of the regulator.

Figure 5 is a section along the line 55 of Figure 1. A

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the regula- Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 only showing a difi'erent type of window runway.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown a vehicle door 1 having a window glass 2 which is adapted to move upwardly and downwardly in the parallel inclined channel runways 3. The window glass 2 has fixed to the bottom edge thereof the sash channel 4. The sash 4 is preferably maintained in a horizontal position as the window glass moves upwardly and downwardly in the inclined channel runways 3. Hence, the sash 4 is angularly disposed relative to the runways. The door is provided with the usual lock board 5 upon which is mounted the window regulator. V

The window regulator has the support plate 6, which is fixed to the lock board 5. The support plate 6 has journaled therein the stud 7 which carries the gear sector 8.

The sector 8 is arranged to be driven by any 0 is hooked over a transverse lug 11 carried by the plate 6.

The lower window sash 4 [carries the,

bracket 12. The bracket 12 has the guideway 13 which is inclined relative to the sash 4. The inclinationof the guide-way 13 relative to the sash 4 depends upon the angle or incline at which the window travels in its upward or downward movement because it is desirable to have the guide-way 13 extend perpendicularly to the vertical path of travel of the window. The lock board in turn carries a plate 14 which may be an extgnsion of the regulator support plate having a slotted guide-way 15 which is parallel to the guide-way 13. The plate 14 is provided with the bifurcated end 16 which fits over the lug 11 of the regulator support plate, the other end of the plate 14 being secured to the lock board by any suitable means such as the screw 17.

Since it is an object of the invention to produce a window regulator having a two contact engagement with the window which contacts are always spaced one on each side of the center of the bottom edge of the window, and one of which contacts determines the path of travel of the window as a straight line, to this end the regulator is comprised of the gear sector 8 having the L-arm 18, the vertical liftingarm 19, and the L-extension 20. The regulator arm members are shown in perspective in Figure 4 in the order of their assembly. As stated above, the sector 8 and L-arm 18 are pivotally mounted on the regulator support plate 6. The vertical lift arm 19 is pivotally mounted as at 21, between the arms 20 and 18. The arm 20 is fixed to the arm 18 asat 22. Hence, the arms 20 and 18 are rigidly connected and together form a loop about the arm 19. It is necessary to loop the arms 18 and 20 about the vertical lift arm 19 to permit the regulator arms to swing from the uppermost position as shown in Figure 1 to the lowered position shown in Figure 2 or still further down. By looping the arms 18 and 20 about the arm 19 collision between the suspension contacts 24, 25 and pivotal points 7 and 26, off" the regulator arms with the arms themselves 3 is prevented. It will be noted that the plate 14 is offset as at 23, to likewise permit the moving parts of the regulator to operate freely in their up and down movement.

The arm 20 carries the stud 24 which slid ably engages the guide-way 13. The vertical lift arm 19 has a fixed pivotal connection as at 25, with the bracket 12. The other end of the vertical lifting arm 19 carries the stud '26 which slidably engages in the slotted guide-way 15. It will be noted by referring to Figures 1 and 2 that a straight line through the points of suspension 24 and 25 is at all times parallel to a line through the pivot 7 and the stud 26. Further, that a line through the pivot 7 and point of suspension 25, will at all'times be perpendicular to the lines extending through 24, 25 and 26, 7. Hence, in assembling the regulator to the lock board the parallel guide-ways 13 and 15 are first positioned at-an angle from the horizontal equal to the an lar inclination of the window run-ways 3 rom the.vertical, and the regulator is then mounted upon the lock board 5 so that a line through the fixed pivotal connection 25 and the pivot 7 is parallel to the runways 3. It will also be noted that the distance from 24 to 21, 25 to 21, 26 to 21, and 7 to 21 are all equal. v

In Figure 5 there is shown one form of runway which comprises the channel member 30 havin the felt covered rubber lining 31. It is evi ent that if the window is not balanced against a tilting action in its own plane, then the window will dig into the flexible lining 31 along the bottom 32 of the channel runway. To avoid this difficulty the points of suspension 24 and 25 are at all times one on each side of the center of the bottom edge 4 of the window, thereby the window is balanced and effectively prevented from cocking or tilting in its own plane and digging into the runway.

In Figure 6, I have shown a modified form of runway. In this instance the vertical edges 35 of the window are not guided and are spaced from the pillar 36. The garnish moulding 37 and the outer door panel 38 each carry the felt beads 39 in the grooves 40 which engage the inner and outer faces of the Window glass to keep out the weather and to cushion the window against in and out movement in the window opening. Inasmuch as the window is movably suspended at 24 and fixedly suspended at 25 on opposite sides of the center of the lower edge, there is no need to guide the same along its vertical edges 35.

In operation when the sector 8 is pivoted about its pivot 7 the suspension contact 24 travels in an arcuate path about the pivot 7 whereas the lower end of the vertical lift arm 26 travels back and forth in a straight line in the guide-way 15 thereby requiring the fixed pivot 25 to travel up and down in a straight line. Inasmuch as the straight line movement of the fixed pivot 25 is parallel to the runways 3, the course of the window is automatically determined in a path parallel to the runways 3. It will be noted that the looping of the arms 18 and 20 about the vertical arm 19, that is, the pivotal mounting of the arm 19 between the arms 18 and 20 which are rigidly fixed together, efiectively obviates collision between any of the moving parts of the regulator, and permits the arm 19 to pass by the pivot 7 and the arm 20 to pass by the sliding stud 26 in the raising and lowering of the window. Although the a-rm'19 preferably has a fixed pivotal connection 25 with the window glass 2, it is understood that the invention is not limited to such a fixed pivotal connection between the arm 19 and the glass 2. The Window regulator will function and properly balance the window glass against cocking even though the pivotal connection 25 is not a fixed pivotal connection because the points of silspension 4. The combination with a window glass 24 and 25 are always on oppositesides of the adapted to be reciprocated upwardly and center of the lower sash channel 4, and these downwardly for closing and opening a winpoints of suspension 24 and 25 exert contindow opening, a regulating mechanism comuous and equal lifting forces upon the winprising an element having a fixed pivotal condow. nection with the window, a second element We claim: having an operative connection movable rela 1. The combination with a window glass tive to the Window, the said elements being roadapted to be reciprocated upwardly and tatablyconnected,meansforactuatingthesaid downwardly for closing and opening a winelements to raise and lower the window, and

dow opening, a regulator mechanism comguide means for the first element whereby prising an element connected to the glass, anthe fixed pivotal connection of the said eletive to the glass, the said operative connecline straight line path whereby sidewise m'otion other element having sliding connection with ment with the window travels in a straight the glass at a point spaced from the first line path.

connection, said elements serving to stabi- 5. Awindow regulator comprising in comlize the glass from cocking in the plane in bination a support, a pair of arms, one of said which it is normally positioned, and means arms adapted to have a fixed pivotal connecfor actuating said elements to raise and lower tion and the other a movable connection the same at the points of connection with the with a window glass, one of said arms havglass for shifting the glass, the point of coning a fixed pivotal connection and the other nection between the first named element and of said arms a relatively movable connection the glass being fixed relative to the glass, the with the said support whereby the connecfixed connection of the element with the glass tion with the window of one of said arms being constrained to raise and lower in a travels in a rectilinear path.

- 6. A window re ulator comprising a supof the glass in its plane is prevented. port plate, a pair o pivotally connected arms,

2. The combination with a window glass one of said armsadapted to have a fixed pivadapted to be reciprocated upwardly and otal connection with a window glass and the downwardly for closing and opening a Win other adapted to have a sliding connection dow opening, a regulating mechanism comwith the window glass, guidesfineans operaprising a pair of elements, each element havtively connected with the one arm causing mg an operative connection with the glass the fixed pivotal connectionfto travel in a spaced relative to the connection of the other straight line path, a pivotal connection beelement with the glass, said spaced operative tween the other arm and the support plate, connections stabilizing the glass from cockand means for actuating the said arms whereing in the plane in which it is normally posiby the window is raised and lowered.

tioned, and means for actuating the said ele- 7. A window regulator comprisinga supments to raise and lower the glass, one of the port member, a pair of pivotally connected said operative connections between an elearms, one adapted to have a fixed pivotal ment and the glass being movable relative to connection and the other a movable connecthe glass, the other operative connection betion with a window, the one arm being looped tween an element and the glass being fixed about theother, and guide means operatively relative to the glass and constrained to raise connected to the one arm causing the fixed and lower in a straight line path whereby pivotal connection to travel in a straight line sidewise movement of the glass in its plane path. 1 is resisted, 8. A window regulator comprising a sup- 3. The combination with a window glass port, an arm pivotally carried by the said adapted to be' reciprocated upwardly and support and adapted tohave a sliding endownwardly for closing and opening a wmgagement with a window, a second arm pivdow opening, a regulating mechanism comotally mounted on the aforementioned arm prising a pair of. elements, operative connec-- and adapted to have a fixed pivotal connections between the elements and the glass, one tion with the window, and rectilinear guide of said operative connections between the means for another portion of thesecond arm element and the glass being fixed relative to whereby the fixed pivotal connection between the glass and the other being movable relathe arm and the window travels in a straightpath when the arms are actuated, the

' tions being spaced one on each side of the first arm having atportion on either side of with the window causing the said fixed operarm about its ment of the glass in its plane.

vertical center line of the window, means for the second arm. 7 actuating the said elements to raise and lower 9. A window regulator comprising a supthe window, and means oper-atively connected port plate, a looped arm pivoted on the said to the element having a fixed connection support plate, meansforpivoting the said pivot, a second arm pivotally ative connect1on\ to ralse and lower in a connected to the looped arm in the said loop, straight line path to resist sidewise move.- anda guide carried by the said support adapted to be engaged by the second said arm, the looped arm adapted to have a relatively movable connection with a window and the second arm adapted to have a fixed pivotal connection therewith whereby when the said arms are actuated the window is constrained to move in a straight line path.

10. The combination with a window glass adapted to be reciprocated upwardly and downwardly for closing and opening a window opening, regulating mechanism comprising a pair of elements, said elements having spaced operative connections with the glass adapted to stabilize the glass from cocking in the plane in which it is normally positioned, and means for actuating the elements to raise and lower the glass, one of said operative connections being movable relative to the glass, the other said operative connection between an element and the glass being constrained to raise and lower in a straight line path.

11. A window regulator comprising in combination a support, a pair of pivoted arms, spaced operative connections adapted to connect the arms to a window, one of said operative connections being movable relative to the window, the said operative connections with the window being positioned on opposite sides of the center of the lower edge of the window and at equal distances from the pivots of the respective arms, and means operatively connected to the other of said arms causing the operative connection between the said arm and the window to travel in a straight line path.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

JOHN W. LAKIN. HERBERT C. FIELD. 

